Sec. 409. Ocean Aquaculture Research and Policy Program

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The Administrator shall establish an Ocean Aquaculture Research and Policy Program to address opportunities, challenges, and innovation in restorative ocean aquaculture development, siting, and operations in the coastal waters and exclusive economic zone through— investment in research and technical assistance to ensure adverse impacts to the marine environment can be fully understood, anticipated, accounted for, and avoided and impacts to wild-capture fisheries and marine wildlife are minimized during the species selection, design, development, siting, and operation of aquaculture facilities; and the development and application of best management practices to ensure the species selection, design, development, siting, and operation of restorative ocean aquaculture maximizes potential benefits while minimizing potential adverse impacts to the marine environment and wild-capture fisheries.

The Administrator shall use existing grant and research programs to support the design, development, siting, and operation of restorative ocean aquaculture using best management practices to maximize potential benefits and minimize potential adverse impacts to the marine environment. In carrying out other programs relating to aquaculture research and development, the Administrator shall prioritize restorative ocean aquaculture, including in carrying out— the Small Business Innovation Research Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

National Sea Grant College Program; and section 2 of the Act of August 11, 1939 ( 15 U.S.C. 713c–3 ). In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall prioritize support for research and technology development that includes— design analyses of restorative aquaculture systems to maximize ecosystem benefits while avoiding adverse impacts to the marine environment and wild-capture fisheries and marine wildlife; spatial analyses to understand and evaluate where siting of restorative aquaculture can minimize adverse impacts to migratory birds and waterbirds, marine birds and mammals, endangered species, and other aspects of the marine ecosystem; monitoring both the individual and cumulative environmental impacts of current and proposed small scale aquaculture operations to inform potential impacts of large-scale operations and siting; offshore monitoring, remediation, and mitigation technology development; and understanding and preparing for impacts that climate change may have on design development, siting, and operations of restorative aquaculture facilities and the marine environment.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Academies shall submit to the Administrator and to Congress a report that reviews, compiles, and synthesizes existing technologies and assessments of restorative ocean aquaculture to further inform ongoing research and technical assistance funded under subsection (c). The report required by subsection

(e)shall include the following: A quantitative assessment of the capacity for sequestering and storing significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and ocean to mitigate the impacts of climate change. A comprehensive assessment of the blue carbon potential for an aquaculture project, including its potential environmental impacts, including cumulative impacts, to native marine species and marine habitat and the potential adverse wildlife interactions likely to result from the use of restorative aquaculture technologies in use or under development worldwide. A comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts, including cumulative impacts, to wild-capture fisheries and marine wildlife and the productivity thereof likely to result from the use of restorative aquaculture technologies in use or under development worldwide. An assessment of any known ecosystems services that have been derived from restorative ocean aquaculture and design, including siting and size parameters that maximize those benefits. A detailed discussion of the mitigation measures available currently to reduce any negative environmental or wild-capture fisheries and marine wildlife impacts identified and their degree of efficacy, as well as the real-time facility monitoring options available. Recommendations of regionally relevant siting, installation, and operations standards necessary to ensure that restorative ocean aquaculture facilities are developed and operated in a manner which minimizes impacts to the marine environment and avoids and minimizes harmful interactions with marine wildlife and habitat or conflict with other existing ocean-user groups. Economic analysis identifying the potential benefits and impacts to commercial and recreational fishing and ocean recreation industries resulting from restorative ocean aquaculture. Recommendations for further research and assessments that should be supported. A sustainability classification system to assess the various types of restorative aquaculture on a range of life cycle ecological and social benefits and provides a composite score with which to rank such types of restorative aquaculture.

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15 USC 713c–3

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Sec. 409

Ocean Aquaculture Research and Policy Program

Cite15 USC 713c–3

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